TWEEDY STRIKE BRINGS HOME THE POINTS!
PONTYCLUN 1 PONTLOTTYN AFC 0
Pontlottyn were the visitors to a bright and sunny Ivor Park on Saturday for a South Wales Alliance League fixture.
Pontlottyn kicked off playing towards the village end. The opening exchanges were quite tame with very little being created by either side. Pontyclun had to wait until the 14th minute for their first real opportunity of the game. The ball was played into the Pontlottyn area from a free kick near the centre circle. Chris Darlington won possession but he sent his effort high over the bar.
A minute later the visitors had their first opportunity. The ball was played into the Pontyclun area from the left. After indecision in the Pontyclun defence the ball eventually broke to a Pontlottyn player twelve yards out but he sent his shot just over the bar.
In the 21st minute Pontlottyn narrowly failed to take the lead when a misplaced Lewis Miller back pass allowed a visiting forward to take possession in the area but Andrew Ringsell was alert to the danger and managed to smother the effort.
Seven minutes later it was Pontyclun who came close to opening the scoring. Good work by Kieran Hodgkin in midfield saw him feed Chris Darlington on the left. The winger’s cross into the area was met by the head of Jamie Williams however his effort just sailed wide of the post..
Pontyclun opened the scoring in the 35th minute. A Pontyclun corner on the right wasn’t cleared by the Pontlottyn defence and the ball broke to Tom Tweedy 12 yards out and the Pontyclun forward shot low into the net.
The visitors were stung into action by this reverse and in the 41st minute they had their best move of the match. A length of the field move involving four Pontlottyn players resulted in the ball reaching a Pontlottyn player on the edge of the Pontyclun area and his firm shot whistled just wide of the post with Andrew Ringsell looking on helplessly.
Right on the stroke of half time the visitors once again came close to levelling the scores. A rare mistake by Kieran Lawrence put a Pontlottyn player through on goal but Lewis Miller got back to put in superb tackle to avert the danger
HALF TIME; PONTYCLUN 1 PONTLOTTYN 0
Pontyclun opened the second half brightly and in the 49th minute came close to extending their lead. Good battling by Jamie Williams on the edge of the Pontyclun area saw him divert the ball into the path of Tom Tweedy who found himself one-on-one with the Pontlottyn goalkeeper. However, the visiting custodian managed to take the sting out of the shot with his studs and the danger was cleared.
The visitors though were enjoying their fair share of possession and in the 53rd minute they were awarded a penalty when Kieran Lawrence was adjudged to have fouled a Pontlottyn player in the area. However, Andrew Ringsell rose the occasion magnificently as diving to his right he managed to save the effort with his legs.
As the half advanced play became much more open and the game flowed from end to end with both goalkeepers often being called into action. Nevertheless it was Pontyclun who looked the more likely to increase their lead as both Aled Davies and Matthew Trigg both came close with good efforts. However, neither side was able to find the net and the game ended with Pontyclun winners by a goal to nil.